Hoop toy

ABSTRACT

A hoop toy is presented wherein a toy figure is mounted for movement on the inner rim of a hoop. The toy is mounted for movement on a discrete track formed by part of the hoop, and stabilizing struts are incorporated to limit sway of the toy within the space of the hoop.

United States Patent 1 1 Weinger Feb. 25, 1975 54] HOOP TOY 563,896 7/1896 Urquhart 46/220 1,216,589 21917 M 46 220x 1 Invenw Slegmd wemge" 11 2,535,396 12i1950 16/100 Woodbridge, Conn. 06525 22 Filed: July 25, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 382,478

51 Int. Cl A6311 11/10 58 Field of Search 46/220, 100, 114

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 465,950 12/1891 Rowe ..I 46/220 Primary Examiner-Robert Peshock Assistant Examiner-J. Q. Lever [57] ABSTRACT A hoop toy is presented wherein a toy figure is mounted for movement on the inner rim of a hoop. The toy is mounted for movement on a discrete track formed by part of the hoop, and stabilizing struts are incorporated to limit sway of the toy within the space of the hoop.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures HOOP TOY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the field of hoop toys. More particularly, this invention relates to the field of hoop toys wherein a figure is mounted for movement, either in oscillatory fashion or for complete revolution within the hoop.

Hoop toys of the general type to which the present invention is directed have been known in the art for many years. However, these prior art devices have been generally unsatisfactory for a number of reasons. Many have been extremely complicated and thus quite fragile and prone to breakage when subjected to hard playing treatment by children. Others have been unsatisfactory in adequately retaining or maintaining the central figure mounted within the hoop.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Referring now to the drawings, wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several figures:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the hoop toy of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified version of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

Referring now to. FIG. 1, a hoop 10 has a wheeled carriage element 12 mounted for movement about the interior of the hoop within a track 14. A pair of support struts l6 .and 18 extend parallel to each other and in a direction perpendicular to a diameter of the hoop toward the center of the hoop. These spaced apart parallel struts serve as supports for a central figure 20 which is connected in any convenient fashion to the support struts l6 and 18. The two spaced apart support struts l6 and 18 are an important requirement to impart balance to the centrally mounted figure 20.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a detail of the hoop construction, including the track and carriage arrangement, is shown. Hoop 10 is in the form of a modified I-beam having an outer flange 22 and an inner flange 24, the width of inner flange 24 being less than the width of outer flange 22. Carriage 12 is in the form of a U-shaped bracket which has two pairs of spaced apart wheels 26 rotatably mounted on suitable axles 28. As can best be seen in FIG. 1, one pair of wheels is at one end of carriage I2, and the other pair of wheels is at the other end of the carriage, and the carriage is arced to conform in shape to a span of the hoop.

6 Referring again to FIG. 2, 1t can be seen that the wheels 26 are housed between inner flange 24 and outer flange 22 and ride on the inner surface of outer flange 22, with one wheel of each pair being on opposite sides of central web 30 extending between the flanges. As can thus be seen, the carriage issecurely mounted on the hoop, with the wheels 26 being retained between and free to rotate in the track defined by the spacing between the inner and outer flanges. In order to be able to mount and dismount the carriage, both wheels on one side of web 30 must be capable of being disengaged from carriage 12. This may be accomplished in any convenient fashion, such as, for example, by detachably connecting the axles 28 on one side with screws 32.

Still referring to FIG. 2, it is important to effect a proportioning of the device wherein the width of outer flange 24 extends beyond the sides of carriage 12. This assures that the carriage, and hence the centrally mounted figure, will not be impeded by objects which might project from the ground past the outer periphery of flange 22.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a pair of cross rods 34 and 36 extend across the open center of the hoop at approximately the central part of the hoop. The rods extend between diametrically opposed points of the flanges 22, one on each side of the web, and the rods are shown broken away in FIG. 1 merely for purposes of illustration to clearly show each rod. Experience with prior art'devices has shown a definite tendency of the centrally mounted figure to sway and thus severely hampering operation of the hoop toys. The rods 34 and 36 eliminate any excessive swaying of the figure.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a modified version of the invention is shown. The modification relates to the structure and mounting of carriage 12. In the FIG. 3 embodiment, the carriage has two rolling wheels 102, one at each end of the carriage, riding on the inner surface of inner flange 24, and two pairs of stabilizing wheels 104, in track 14, one pair at each end of the carriage, engaging the outer surface of flange 24 on each side of web 30. Each wheel 102 is approximately the full width of flange 24 and mounts the carriage for rolling on the flange. The four wheels 104 cooperate to pinch the flange between the wheels 102 and 104 and stabilize the carriage against sway. Sway bars 34 and 36 may be omitted with the carriage configuration of FIG. 3.

Inthe intended mode of operation, the hoop is placed on the ground with flange 22 in contact with the ground. The circular hoop is then propelled, either by hand or by striking it in a propelling fashion with a stick or similar device. As the hoop is thus caused to move along the ground, the carriage rides in the track, and the central figure is caused to oscillate back and forth, along with thecarriage, or the carriage can be made to assume various positions along the track depending upon relative inertia and dynamic forces imposed on the hoop toy.

While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.

What is claimed is:

1. A hoop toy including:

a hoop member having a modified I-beam shape in crosssection with an outer flange, an inner flange and a web connecting said flanges, said inner flange a pair of support struts extending from said carriage means within said hoop; and figure means mounted on said support struts. 2. A hoop toy as in claim 1 including: sway limiting means extending across said hoop member. 3. A hoop toy as in claim 2 wherein said sway limiting means includes:

a pair of rods extending across the central part of said hoop on each side thereof.

4. A hoop toy as in claim 1 wherein said wheel means includes:

a pair of stabilizing wheels at each side of said connecting web between the ends of said carriage, said wheels being in contact with the outer surface of ,said inner flange; and said hoop toy further includmg: 7 second wheel means mounted on said carriage and in rolling contact with the inner surface of said inner flange.

5. A hoop toy as in claim 4 wherein said second wheel means includes:

first and second wheels spaced apart between the ends of said carriage, said first and second wheels being substantially equal in width to the width of said inner flange.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE QERTIFICATE OF CGRRECTION 0 PATENT NO. 3,867,787

DATED 1 Fe ruary 5, 1975 |NVENTOR(S) SIEGFRIED WEINBERG It is certified that error appears in the ab0veidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

The listings of the inventor's name "Siegfried Weinger" should be --Siegfried Weinberg-- Signed and Scaled this second Day Of September 1975 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (mnmr'ssimu'r uj'Parenrs and Trademarks 

1. A hoop toy including: a hoop member having a modified I-beam shape in crosssection with an outer flange, an inner flange and a web connecting said flanges, said inner flange being narrower than said outer flange and said flanges defining a track therebetween; carriage means mounted for rolling movement about said hoop, said carriage means including a U-shaped member with the closed end thereof bridging said inner flange and the sides thereof extending past said inner flange toward said outer flange; a pair of wheels at each side of said connecting web between the ends of said carriage, said wheels being in rolling contact with the inner surface of said outer flange; a pair of support struts extending from said carriage means within said hoop; and figure means mounted on said support struts.
 2. A hoop toy as in claim 1 including: sway limiting means extending across said hoop member.
 3. A hoop toy as in claim 2 wherein said sway limiting means includes: a pair of rods extending across the central part of said hoop on each side thereof.
 4. A hoop toy as in claim 1 Wherein said wheel means includes: a pair of stabilizing wheels at each side of said connecting web between the ends of said carriage, said wheels being in contact with the outer surface of said inner flange; and said hoop toy further including: second wheel means mounted on said carriage and in rolling contact with the inner surface of said inner flange.
 5. A hoop toy as in claim 4 wherein said second wheel means includes: first and second wheels spaced apart between the ends of said carriage, said first and second wheels being substantially equal in width to the width of said inner flange. 